BS in Natural Resource Science and Management

Degree Program Description

The Natural Resource Science and Management degree addresses the science, art, and craft of creating, managing, using, conserving, and repairing natural and human-dominated ecosystems, in a sustainable manner, to meet desired societal goals. The degree has elements that belong to the biological, physical, social, political and managerial sciences that are applied to conserving plant and animal species in forests, grasslands, rivers and streams, and urban areas. The degree also develops students' skills in working with diverse groups of people. Students with degrees in Natural Resource Science and Management work as fisheries biologists, foresters, interpreters, naturalists, and wildlife biologists for state and federal agencies, nature centers and museums, and consulting firms.

Students pursuing a degree in Natural Resource Science and Management must individualize their degree by choosing one of four emphasis areas. The Forest Resources emphasis prepares students to manage forests in order to protect wildlife habitats and the environment while meeting the ever-growing demand for wood products. The Human Dimensions emphasis trains students to apply social sciences to address questions about how people’s attitudes, knowledge, values and behaviors impact management of our natural resources. The Fisheries and Wildlife Science emphasis focuses upon development of skills in conservation of wildlife habitat, protection of endangered species, and management of wild animal populations. The Terrestrial Ecosystem emphasis allows students to combine interests in wildlife management and forestry to both conserve biodiversity and satisfy the needs of society for renewable natural resources using the practice of ecosystem management.

Major Program Requirements

Students earning a Bachelor of Science in Natural Resource Science and Management are required to complete all University general education, University graduation, and degree requirements, including selected foundational courses, which may fulfill University general education requirements.

Students majoring in Natural Resource Science and Management may select one of the following emphasis areas:

Foundational Courses21-22
MATH 1100College Algebra3
MATH 1400Calculus for Social and Life Sciences I3
ATM_SC 1050Introductory Meteorology3-4
or PHYSCS 1210 College Physics I
SOIL 2100Introduction to Soils FR and TE emphasis areas MUST take Soil 2100 and Soil 21063
or GEOL 1100 Introduction to the Earth with Laboratory
SOIL 2106Soil Science Laboratory FR and TE emphasis areas MUST take Soil 2100 and Soil 21062
or GEOL 1100 Introduction to the Earth with Laboratory
CHEM 1400
CHEM 1401
College Chemistry I
and College Chemistry I Laboratory
4
ABM 1041Applied Microeconomics3
or ABM 1042 Applied Macroeconomics
or ABM 2070W Environmental Economics and Policy - Writing Intensive
Degree Program Requirements41-43
ABM 2123Quantitative Applications in Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences 3
or STAT 2500 Introduction to Probability and Statistics I
NAT_R 1070Ecology and Conservation of Natural Resources3
PRST 3231Interpretation of Natural and Cultural Resources3
or ENV_SC 4024 Foundations of Environmental Education
BIO_SC 1200General Botany with Laboratory3-5
or PLNT_SCI 2110 Who Runs the World? Plants.
FOREST 2151Dendrology4
NAT_R 4110Natural Resource Biometrics4
F_W 4600WEcosystem Management - Writing Intensive3
NAT_R 2325Introduction to Geographic Information Systems3
or GEOG 3040 Introduction to Geographic Information Systems GIS
NAT_R 4353Natural Resource Policy/Administration3
or ENV_SC 4400W Environmental Law, Policy, and Justice - Writing Intensive
or PRST 3230 Outdoor Recreation Policy
FOREST 4320Forest Ecology5
or BIO_SC 3650 General Ecology
NAT_R 4940Natural Resources Science and Management Internship3
or NAT_R 4950 Undergraduate Research in Natural Resources Science and Management
F_W 4650Natural Resource Planning and Management (Capstone)4
Emphasis Area Requirements40-44

Back to Top

Semester Plan

Below is a sample semester plan for the B.S. in Natural Resource Science and Management. Please consult with your advisor prior to registering for courses. 

First Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits 
BIO_SC 12005NAT_R 23253 
NAT_R 10703ENGLSH 10003 
ATM_SC 10503Emphasis Area Course3-5 
MATH 11003PRST 32313 
 14 12-14  
Second Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits 
FOREST 21514SOIL 21003 
ABM 10413CHEM 1400
CHEM 1401
4 
Missouri State Law Requirement3Emphasis Area Course3-5 
Humanities & Fine Arts3Humanities & Fine Arts3 
Emphasis Courses3-4Humanities & Fine Arts3 
 16-17 16-18  
Third Year
FallCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
SOIL 21062Emphasis Area Course3NAT_R 4950 or 49403
MATH 14003Emphasis Area Course4 
NAT_R 41104Emphasis Area Course5 
ABM 21233Emphasis Area Course3 
Approved Econ Course3  
 15 15 3
Fourth Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits 
F_W 4600W3NAT_R 43533 
Emphasis Area Course3F_W 46504 
Emphasis Area Course3Emphasis Area Course3 
Emphasis Area Course3Emphasis Area Course4 
Behavioral or Social Science3  
 15 14  
Total Credits: 120-125

Back to Top

Degree Audit

The degree audit is an automated report reflecting a student’s academic progress toward the completion of a degree. 

MU students can request a degree audit by logging in to myDegreePlanner. Students may also access myDegreePlanner via myZou, in the Student Center, click on the Academic Progress Tile, then select Request Degree Audit. The audit automatically pulls in the student’s MU course work, transfer courses and courses in progress. This is available to current students, admitted students, and those who last attended less than three terms ago.

Past MU students can request a degree audit by contacting the Academic Advising Unit of the division in which they were last enrolled at MU. For contact information, go to https://advising.missouri.edu/contact/.

Prospective students, can access a preliminary MU degree audit via https://www.transferology.com. Information on the college credits already earned will have to be manually entered before it can be evaluated against current degree requirements.

For additional details on degree audits, go to https://registrar.missouri.edu/degrees-audits/degree-audits/.

Back to Top

Major and Career Exploration

The University of Missouri has many resources to assist you in exploring majors and career possibilities. For guidance, visit the Majors and Careers website or view specific resources below.

  • If you are considering a change of major or are exploring multiple majors, schedule an appointment with an advisor in the Discovery Center by calling (573)884-9700 or through MU Connect Discovery Center service in you success network.

  • If you have decided on a major, visit an academic advisor in the School or College that you are interested in to discuss the process of declaring the major

  • If you would like to learn more about your career interests, abilities, values and talents, visit the MU Career Center. No Appointment is necessary to explore career options with one of our staff members.

For additional major and career exploration resources, visit Major & Career Exploration in the catalog.

Back to Top